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MANAGEMENT SERVICES AGREEMENT

Management Facility Services Agreement

MANAGEMENT SERVICES AGREEMENT | Document Parties: CHARLES & COLVARD LTD | Bird Capital Group, Inc You are currently viewing:
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CHARLES & COLVARD LTD | Bird Capital Group, Inc

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Title: MANAGEMENT SERVICES AGREEMENT
Governing Law: North Carolina     Date: 2/9/2009
Industry: Jewelry and Silverware     Law Firm: Womble Carlyle     Sector: Consumer Cyclical

MANAGEMENT SERVICES AGREEMENT, Parties: charles & colvard ltd , bird capital group  inc
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Exhibit 10.128

REDACTED – OMITTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN SEPARATELY FILED WITH THE COMMISSION PURSUANT TO RULE 24b-2 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED, AND IS DENOTED HEREIN BY *****

MANAGEMENT SERVICES AGREEMENT

MANAGEMENT SERVICES AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), made and entered into this 3rd day of February, 2009, by and between Charles & Colvard, Ltd. (“C&C”), a North Carolina corporation, and Bird Capital Group, Inc. (“BCG”), a Nevada corporation.

1. Services to be Provided . BCG agrees to provide to C&C management services intended to initiate and lead a turnaround of C&C’s business, including the services of BCG personnel resources, whether as BCG employees or as consultants or as other third party resources, any and all of which will be provided by BCG at its cost (other than the costs, expenses, Monthly Management Fees (hereinafter defined), bonuses and other remuneration which C&C is obligated to pay BCG or Bird pursuant to the terms of this Agreement) and as BCG, in its sole and absolute discretion, may deem appropriate, but specifically including the management services of Richard A. Bird (“Bird”) to serve as non-employee CEO of C&C on a full-time basis during the term of this Agreement.

Bird’s duties as non-employee CEO of C&C will include all the normal CEO executive duties, including without limitation those set forth in C&C’s bylaws and corporate governance policies, and providing leadership to C&C’s employees and to all aspects of C&C’s business, developing appropriate operational improvements to improve growth and profitability of C&C’s business, implementing appropriate sound management procedures and practices, reporting to C&C’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) regularly, and providing other services as reasonably requested by the Board that are customarily provided by a CEO, including without limitation the execution and filing of all documents and certifications required to be signed by C&C’s CEO or principal executive officer under all applicable securities laws and regulations.

Subject to any direction to the contrary from the Board, C&C agrees that, during any term of this Agreement, only Bird as non-employee CEO will be empowered by C&C to enter into contracts on behalf of C&C, which C&C shall assure by suitable affirmative disempowerment of any other officers of C&C. Bird may from time to time authorize other officers of C&C to enter into contracts on behalf of C&C.

On or before April 15, 2009, BCG (in collaboration with consulting resources in the areas of international business, global marketing and other areas as deemed appropriate by BCG and as engaged by BCG in its sole and absolute discretion and paid for by BCG) will provide C&C with a written report setting forth a detailed and specific strategy for growth and competitive success to be the basis for structuring and aligning C&C’s worldwide positioning, marketing, organization and actions. Such strategy shall address the issues set forth on Exhibit A attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference and such other issues as BCG may deem appropriate. Subject to the approval of the Board, Bird as non-employee CEO shall implement the elements of the strategy as approved and adopted by the Board and manage C&C to achieve the goals to be accomplished thereby.

BCG shall endeavor to direct the services it provides toward the goals of increased sales for C&C, reduced operational costs for C&C, improved marketing of C&C’s products, and increased shareholder value for C&C’s shareholders.


REDACTED – OMITTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN SEPARATELY FILED WITH THE COMMISSION PURSUANT TO RULE 24b-2 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED, AND IS DENOTED HEREIN BY *****

 

2. Monthly Management Fee . C&C agrees to pay to BCG in cash a monthly fee (the “Monthly Management Fee”) in advance on the first day of each month during the term of this Agreement. The initial Monthly Management Fee for the remainder of calendar year 2009 beginning on February 1, 2009 shall be $75,000.00. Beginning January 1, 2010 and on January 1 in each succeeding year of the term hereof, the Monthly Management Fee shall be adjusted as hereinafter set forth. If four percent (4%) of C&C’s annual net sales (the “4% Sales”) for any calendar year (or, with respect to the first and last years of the term of this Agreement, the portion of such calendar year) during the term of this Agreement, shall exceed the aggregate Monthly Management Fees paid hereunder with respect to such calendar year (or portion thereof), C&C will immediately pay to BCG in cash the amount by which such 4% Sales exceeds such aggregate Monthly Management Fees paid with respect to such calendar year (or portion thereof). For each successive calendar year of the term hereof beginning January 1, 2010, the Monthly Management Fee shall be adjusted to the greater of (i) one-twelfth of the 4% Sales for the prior calendar year (or prorated portion thereof), or (ii) $75,000.00, as adjusted upward (but never downward) by any percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Consumers in the Raleigh, North Carolina metropolitan area, as published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce (the “Index”), as of December of the prior calendar year over the Index for December in the calendar year immediately preceding such prior year. If the Monthly Management Fees paid during any calendar year (or, with respect to the first and last years of the term of this Agreement, the portion of such calendar year during the term of this Agreement) shall exceed both (A) the 4% Sales for such calendar year (or portion thereof) and (B) $900,000.00 (or, with respect to a partial calendar year, a pro rata portion thereof), as adjusted annually by the Index as set forth herein, then any such excess by which the Monthly Management Fees paid during such calendar year (or, with respect to the first and last years of the term of this Agreement, the portion of such calendar year during the term of this Agreement) shall exceed the greater of (A) or (B) above for such calendar year (or portion thereof) shall be deducted from the next installments of the Monthly Management Fees payable hereunder or any other amounts otherwise payable hereunder and, in any event, any amount thereof which has not been repaid by BCG to C&C as indicated in this sentence shall be paid in full by BCG to C&C upon the termination of this Agreement. For purposes hereof, “annual net sales” shall be determined by reference to C&C’s audited financial statements for the applicable calendar year (or, for any partial year, by reference to C&C’s financial statements for such partial year). Annual net sales for any partial year shall mean the net sales determined in accordance herewith for the actual portion of the year which has expired.

Bird shall be reimbursed promptly by C&C for any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses that are incurred by Bird in performing his duties as non-employee CEO under this Agreement, including, without limitation, his reasonable travel expenses, such expenses to be reimbursed in accordance with C&C’s travel and expense reimbursement policy as approved by the Board. In no event shall such expenses exceed $90,000.00 in any calendar year, prorated for any partial year, without the prior written approval of the Board. The out-of-pocket expenses of all other employees and consultants of BCG shall be paid by BCG.

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2, the Monthly Management Fee shall be $175,000.00 per month for the first two months of the term of this Agreement to compensate BCG for additional market assessment services and strategy formulation work.

 

2


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3. Short-term bonuses (first 12 months) . In addition to the Monthly Management Fees to which BCG is entitled under Section 2, C&C agrees to pay to BCG the following two short-term bonuses:

(a) a one-time bonus equal to ten percent (10%) of any realized gross profit (i.e., the difference between net sales from the sale of finished goods inventory and the cost value of such inventory) which C&C collects in cash from the reduction, through net sales, of C&C’s gross finished goods inventory (prior to any accounting reserves and including finished goods inventory on consignment) on C&C’s balance sheet on January 31, 2010, below C&C’s gross finished goods inventory (prior to any accounting reserves and including finished goods inventory on consignment) on C&C’s balance sheet on January 31, 2009. For purposes of this calculation, (i) in determining the “gross profit” on any sales of gross finished goods inventory, the “cost value” of such inventory shall mean the cost of goods sold related to such inventory determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles plus any applicable co-op advertising allowances and/or marketing costs or expenses directly related to the sale of such inventory and (ii) any and all effects of any action by C&C to purchase (or accept return of) moissanite jewels and jewelry from Reeves Park during the period from January 31, 2009 through January 31, 2010 shall be excluded from the calculation. The amount of this bonus, if any, will be calculated and paid in cash promptly after the later of (x) the date C&C files with the Securities and Exchange Commission its Form 10-K for the calendar year ending December 31, 2009 or (y) the date C&C finalizes its unaudited financial statements for the month of January, 2010; provided, however, that any such bonus shall be paid only on, as and when the applicable inventory net sales on which such bonus is payable are received by C&C in cash. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the gross finished goods inventory on January 31, 2010 is lower than the gross finished goods inventory on January 31, 2009 due, in whole or in part, to a Sale Transaction (as defined in Section 4(b)), then for purposes of calculating any bonus under this Section 3(a), the portion of the proceeds received in such Sale Transaction which are allocated to the purchase price for the finished goods inventory shall be included in such calculation and the balance of such proceeds shall be used for purposes of determining any Termination Bonus under Section 4(b). For the avoidance of any doubt, no bonus will be earned hereunder unless, as a result of net sales, C&C’s gross finished goods inventory on January 31, 2010 is less than C&C’s gross finished goods inventory on January 31, 2009. An example of the computation of this bonus (using hypothetical numbers) is set forth on Exhibit B attached hereto and incorporated herein by this reference, and

(b) a ***** bonus equal to ***** which C&C receives from *****.

4. Long-term bonuses . In addition to the Monthly Management Fees to which BCG is entitled under Section 2 and the short-term bonuses to which BCG is entitled under Section 3, C&C agrees to pay to BCG the following long-term bonuses:

(a) a bonus equal to twenty percent (20%) of C&C’s Adjusted Operating Income (hereinafter defined) during the term of this Agreement, any such bonus to be paid to BCG by C&C in cash either (A) as payable annually for each calendar year during the term of this Agreement (but beginning with the shortened eleven month period of calendar year 2009 from February 1, 2009 through December 31, 2009) within thirty (30) days after the calculation of C&C’s annual Adjusted Operating Income for the calendar year in question or the shortened

 

3


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eleven-month period of calendar year 2009 (which calculation shall be made by reference to C&C’s audited financial statements for the applicable year) or (B) as payable, upon any termination of this Agreement, for any applicable partial year period for the year in which such termination occurs and to be paid to BCG by C&C within the time period stated herein for payment of any bonuses due to BCG upon any such termination and as calculated for the portion of the partial-year period from January 1 of such year of any such termination (or February 1, 2009 in the case of any such termination occurring in 2009) through the date of any such termination. For purposes of this Agreement, “Adjusted Operating Income” shall mean C&C’s operating income before or excluding (as applicable) the following: (i) interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization; (ii) any charges or accruals for any potential bonuses payable to BCG under this Section 4(a); (iii) any charges or accruals for any potential bonus payable to BCG under Section 4(b); (iv) any writedowns resulting from business conducted by Reeves Park, Inc. or C&C with J.C. Penney prior to February 1, 2009; (v) any financial impact/effect resulting from the settlement agreement with Reeves Park, Inc. dated January 15, 2009; (vi) any proceeds or recovery from, or legal costs related to, the Korean patent lawsuit and any class-action lawsuit or any lawsuit arising with respect to matters or occurrences prior to February 1, 2009; (vii) termination costs of any current C&C employees (such exclusion of such termination costs not to exceed a total of $1,000,000 including all associated severance, benefits, and legal costs); and (viii) any effect of income tax refunds due and payable to C&C applicable to tax years prior to 2009; and

(b) a one-time bonus (the “Termination Bonus”) equal to twenty percent (20%) of the amount by which (i) C&C’s total market valuation on the earlier to occur of (A) the closing date of a sale or transfer (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets or capital stock of C&C, whether such sale or transfer is effected through a sale, merger, combination or consolidation, or otherwise (collectively, a “Sale Transaction”), or (B) the date that this Agreement is terminated, exceeds (ii) C&C’s total market valuation at the closing market price on the last trading day prior to the date of this Agreement, which is $5,683,582.16 ($.31/share on 18,334,136 shares). If the Sale Transaction is a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of C&C, the “total market valuation” on the closing date of the Sale Transaction shall be equal to C&C’s net after tax proceeds, or net after tax total economic consideration received, from such sale, including in such proceeds the economic equivalent of any non-cash consideration received by C&C and the net present value economic equivalent of any deferred future income streams or payments accruing to C&C from such sale. In the event the Sale Transaction is a merger or stock purchase, the “total market valuation” of C&C shall be the total acquisition value of C&C paid at closing by the buyer or other merger party. In all other instances, so long as C&C’s common stock is then publicly traded on a national stock exchange or an automated quotation system, “total market valuation” shall be determined by multiplying (x) the average closing market price of a share of C&C’s common stock on the days on which a sale of the stock occurred within the last thirty (30) days prior to the date in question (as reported on the national stock exchange or automated quotation system on which C&C’s common stock so trades) by (y) the fully-diluted total outstanding number of shares of C&C’s common stock on the date in question (with the fully diluted total outstanding shares including only “in the money” options, warrants or similar securities exercisable for or convertible into C&C common stock), and, if the common stock is not publicly traded and the parties are not able to agree upon the total market valuation, each of BCG and C&C shall select an appraiser, the two appraisers so selected shall select a third appraiser, and the three appraisers shall determine the total market

 

4


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valuation of C&C. If the three appraisers are unable to agree upon a valuation, the average of their appraised values shall be used. The appraisers shall be impartial and independent and have experience in the valuation of similar companies. Any such bonus shall be paid in cash on the closing date of any Sale Transaction or within thirty (30) days of the date of any termination of this Agreement, as applicable; provided, however that if this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 6 (i.e., a “Death or Incapacitation Termination”), then such bonus shall be paid in cash within sixty (60) days of such Death or Incapacitation Termination. This Agreement shall be deemed to be terminated upon the payment of the Termination Bonus if not previously terminated by any other provision hereof.

5. Term and Nonperformance Termination . The initial term of this Agreement shall begin on the date of this Agreement and end on December 31, 2010, after which this Agreement will renew automatically annually for three successive one-year terms (“Extended Term or Terms”), except that C&C shall have the option to terminate this Agreement (a “Nonperformance Termination”) at any time within thirty (30) days after receipt of the year-end audited financial statements for C&C for the calendar years 2010, 2011 or 2012 if and only if both C&C’s (i) annual sales (“Annual Sales”), and (ii) Adjusted Operating Income are less than the following numbers for the applicable calendar year:

 

Year

  

Annual Sales
($Million)

  

Adjusted
Operating Income
($Million)

2010

  

22.0

  

0.50

2011

  

26.6

  

1.0

2012

  

32.0

  

1.5

If C&C, as determined by a vote of the Board, exercises its conditional option to terminate this Agreement as above, then C&C shall pay to BCG, in cash within thirty (30) days of any such Nonperformance Termination, all moneys and bonuses due to BCG under this Agreement valued as of the date of such Nonperformance Termination.

Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, C&C shall have the right to terminate this Agreement at any time “for cause” (a “Defined For Cause Termination”) only upon the occurrence of any of the following:

(i) BCG or Bird shall fail to comply with this Agreement in any material respect, or to follow any reasonable directive of the Board as specifically related to Bird’s duties as non-employee CEO, and shall thereafter fail to cure such failure within thirty (30) days after having received written notice thereof, which written notice shall specify in reasonable detail such failure as well as the steps required by C&C to be taken by BCG or Bird as applicable to cure such failure;

(ii) BCG or Bird shall be grossly negligent in the exercise of any duties hereunder, and shall thereafter fail to cure such gross negligence within thirty (30) days after having received written notice thereof, which written notice shall specify in reasonable detail such gross

 

5


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negligence as well as the steps required by C&C to be taken by BCG or Bird as applicable to cure such gross negligence;

(iii) Bird shall be convicted of or plead nolo contendere to (or otherwise not contest allegations of) any crime of moral turpitude or shall engage in alcohol or prescription drug abuse or use any illegal drugs; or

(iv) BCG or Bird shall fail to be in material compliance with either the Bylaws, Code of Business Conduct and Ethics or Corporate Governance Guidelines of C&C and shall fail to cure such failure within thirty (30) days after having received


 
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